Can't switch supplier as national database incorrect??

Markorama

I have been having the same issues switching from Co-op (now recently taken over by Octopus) for the past two years. Co-op promised me that they had finally sorted the issue but it seems not, as trying to switch again has been greeted with yet more rejection from the potential new supplier. Luckily though I have just spoken to someone at Octopus who is a meter specialist and she gave me some interesting information regarding the data that is held on the national database. As well as the serial number for each meter there is also the MPAN (electricity) and MPRN (gas) references given to each meter by the Meter Point Administration Service (I’m sure you are all aware of this). But there’s more….there will also be other references relating to your meter, such as C to denote it as a credit meter for instance, or K to denote usually (but not always) a prepayment meter. I have found out mine is set as K even though it is a credit meter. The specialist said that another company may very well look at that and automatically assume it’s a prepayment meter, however if they looked at other crucial data (such as the first letters of the serial number) it would be obvious that it was actually a credit meter. Serial numbers also denote what TYPE of meter it is! Probably laziness wins out and companies don’t dig into the data to make sure you have a credit meter but just reject instead. I have to wait now for the NDB to be updated to see if this solves my problem, I’ll let you know.

fat-pudding

Markorama said:

there will also be other references relating to your meter, such as C to denote it as a credit meter for instance, or K to denote usually (but not always) a prepayment meter. I have found out mine is set as K even though it is a credit meter. 

Very interesting, we moved into this house 7 years ago and replace a prepayment meter with a credit meter, we were with EDF at the time, since then we changed suppliers and were with Co-op and now we're stuck with Octopus as our meter is incorrectly registered to an address on the next street and UKPN are refusing to update so we can't leave Octopus, what is interesting is that our meter has a serial number that begins with a K too. 

davek120350

Hi
I am having the same problem trying to switch energy accounts.  Keep being told that the National Data Base is different to my account.  Had a new metre fitted last year and switched to dual fuel from economy7.  My supplier EDF says the Data base has been updated and is now correct.  Unfortunately I cannot see if this is true.  Switch companies still say I have economy7. Can anybody help please?
Dave

Gerry1

Gas: https://www.findmysupplier.energy/webapp/index.html

Electricity: Your DNO's website will tell you.  Dial 105 if you're not sure.

davek120350

Thank Gerry.  I will investigate further.

phillum12

I’m trying to change supplier but they keep stopping me switching.
wanted dual fuel tariff but they keep stepping the contract dates, stopped a switch then put me on another contract!
I just want to switch.... BG are telling me to call another department every time I call! Useless it’s like they’ve locked me into thier tariffs only and keep stopping a switch, latest is due to corona the phone numbers just cut you off which they keep sending me letters to call them!

Tahlullah.H

Hi.  I am having a similar problem and would welcome suggestions.  After complaints and probing, SSE my current supplier - who I am trying to leave, have informed me that there is a second property on the estate with the same house number, the equivalent of '1 The Street'.  So there are two different meter numbers registered for the 2 different properties, but both have the same address.  SSE state that they can see my address on the National Database and all is correct, but because there is a second meter on the list, with the same address, the new supplier only seem to see the first address.  My address is the second '1 The Street' on the list.  If my address was first on the list, there wouldn't be a problem, the switch supplier only get to the first '1 The Street' and stop looking.  SSE are saying they can't correct anything, because there is nothing to correct.  However, they can tell me that the 1st property is with British Gas, and they cannot do anything about this as it is not their responsibility - GDPR etc.  I cannot go and speak to the property which has the other number, because officially, there is only one '1 The Street' which is my address, so I couldn't identify them if I tried.  So I appear to also be locked with my current supplier until the first '1 The Street' attempt to change supplier, and then they will realise there is a problem and rectify it.

This is what SSE and I believe, unless someone is able to help by saying we are missing something obvious?

Gerry1

Raise a formal compaint in writing and ask for a deadlock letter. As it's SSE you can go to the Ombudsman after six weeks if they don't respond.  You could separately try your DNO, they may be more clued up.

[Deleted User]

Ha !
I’m 5 months into an official complaint with utility warehouse and I keep being told they’ve done everything they can and are awaiting Npower doing their bit.
They are now hassling me to close my complaint as there’s nothing more they can do. Ridiculous.

After my complaint being upheld and the ombudsman saying there is still nothing that can be done I had a call this week to say “all sorted you can go ahead and switch away now”. I didn’t waste any time but am waiting to see if it will go ahead ok. 

BugMeNot1

Exact same issue as Tahlullah.H. My house name is registered as another similar house name along the street (The Old Chapel / The Old Chapel Cottage) but the other house needs to get their meter address changed. After speaking with them, they claimed not to know where their meter was (rental, with all bills included).

Makes for a nightmare every time I change supplier as the companies always take the wrong meter, and can't change mine to the correct address as the address already exists